Software Connections

The more interesting people I follow and the longer I’ve been actively using Twitter the more I like it.   Since August, 2006 there’s been many people who feel the same way.  Soon developers began implementing the API for Twitter and producing the many applications that everyone’s been tweetin’ ’bout.

Which brings us to Page 7 of your Twitter Settings Panel:  Connections
When you first sign up with Twitter there won’t be anything on your Connections page.  It’s time to make a key connection.

Wefollow

Wefollow,  a free to join twitter directory site,  is one of  many useful resources that we have.  In it’s simplest terms, Wefollow is a database or directory of Twitter members who have added their twitter link, avatar, and profiles to WeFollow.

What makes WeFollow useful is that it’s a multi-directory,  subdivided into 20 broad topics;  i.e. blogs, media, marketing, travel, etcetera.   When you first sign up on Wefollow you’re asked to select your favorite three topics of  interest.  Upon doing so your twitter link, photo and profile are displayed on Wefollow in all three categories that you’ve chosen.  That’s why Wefollow is so, dare I tweet, coo-coo-cool.

Secondly, you’re asked to pick the top ten tweeters, chosen from those you already follow.  Your choices are then sent out as a tweet.  This, in turn, compels others to check out your top ten list and on it goes.

Thirdly, you may choose to follow anyone you like in the Wefollow database in any of the 20 categories.  In this way, it’s easily possible to create a large following simply by following people that interst you.

It’s interesting how something simple can seem complicated at first.  Social networking is like that.  It’s really a skill in the art of communication and that depends on what it is you’d like to share with someone, everyone, or anyone who’s listening.  Twitter and other social media sites are all an exercise of, or an experiment in free speech as granted through the 1st amendment of our Constitution.  Free speech is the corner stone our society.  Enjoy it, practice it, share it, and protect it.  It’s priceless.

Basic Twitter Communications

Twitter is a social network communications platform.  The network is designed around two distinct types of communication:

Type 1. The following tweets are seen by everyone who follows you.

- there are three of this type:

• 1. the  tweet
  

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• 2. the RT or retweet
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• 3.  the @username tweet ( or @ reply is the term that’s used more often)
  

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Type 2. You may send a direct message to any member of Twitter and only your intended receiver will see it.  It’s a strictly private message.

- there is one of this type:

1.   DM or direct message

In the twitter-sphere on our home page we’re only 2 clicks and a tweet away from each other.  Still, it’s important to note that Twitter functions as an instant bulletin board feed and as a conversational platform.  It really depends on the individual.  My sense is that people enjoy using @username (@replies) tweets and seeing others @username tweets because it gives an impression of your personality.

When I say @username or @ replies I mean tweets that are public and that are seen by all your followers but are directed towards a specific member.  The @username tweet is utilized quite often as a  method of engaging in conversation or light banter on twitter at least from my experience so far. It’s “relatively direct” and open at the same time thus allowing others to listen in or join in your conversation.

The DM or ‘direct message’ allows us to send private greetings or messages to anyone who follows us.   Some tweeters have no interest in using twitter’s DM feature and others use it to send a personal “thank you for following” message or to carry on a more personal dialogue with someone.

Since the DM is a private message there’s no way to tell how much it’s being used on twitter.  The important thing is that it is a feature option and it’s nice to have it.

For some, twitter is either a broadcast site or it’s a two-way communication site and  for others it’s both in various measure – a little bit a this and  a little bit a that.

Twitter folks are finding new friends, building new relationships, learning new ideas, sharing pics, videos, thoughts, famous and not so famous quotes and whatever comes to mind or the news on any given day.  In 60′s speak, twitter’s a blast!

If  you’d like to check out twitter just click on the blue bird at the top of this page and also please read Part One of Prime Time for Twitter as you’re going through the sign up.  It’ll help.

In Part 3 of PTFT I’ll cover all the other useful links on your twitter home page excluding the Settings Panel link that I’ve already covered in Part One.

In Part 4 of PTFT I ‘m planning to review another free Twitter application known as TweetDeck.  It comes highly recommended.  It allows users to manage various aspects of Twitter.  It also provides continuous feeds in customized groupings on a customized dashboard.

If you’re already up to speed with using Twitter on your Twitter web site and you can’t wait to try out TweetDeck then I highly recommend the perfect starter video done by a wonderful lady known as the Twitter Fairy.  It’s called TweetDeck – Making Twitter Fun.  It’s a must see for anyone planning to use Twitter on regular basis.

I’ll close here with one more key recommendation.  David Cheyne,  one of my favorite internet marketers  came out with his free Twittering For Traffic viral software tool this year.  I used it only once and I went from 20 followers to 200 in 1 month.  I added 200 more just by searching for people that are interesting or share similar interests and following other member recommendations.

*(Make sure you have at least 10 or 20 followers before implementing David’s application.  Otherwise it won’t have much effect.)  Simply enter your twitter username and password and in a short time you’ll begin to see more followers.  It’s that easy.  In addition to that, you’ll get your own viral link for Twittering For Traffic and that link if used effectively on a regular basis can produce more followers than a bear has fur.